Category: RV Interior Care

Posts explaining RV interior inspection and care

How To Defrost An RV Refrigerator The Simple And Easy Way

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If it’s time to defrost an RV refrigerator in your rig, don’t feel bad. Frost often builds up inside RV freezers and refrigerators.

And when it does you will have to get rid of it eventually when it starts affecting the performance of the refrigerator.

Residential refrigerators have advanced to the point where almost all of them are frost-free. So why do so many RV refrigerators have to be defrosted manually?

Watch my video on how to defrost an RV refrigerator and freezer

Well, the problem is much worse in the summer months, when the air is hot and humid. And opening the fridge doors a lot will allow the hot and humid air inside.

Then the moisture can stick to the sidewalls of the freezer and the fins in the refrigerator.

Another common cause of frost building up inside RV refrigerators is the size of the units themselves. Most RV refrigerators are much smaller than we may be used to using at home.

And because they are smaller we all like to pack as much food inside as we can to have our normal foods available whenever we want them.

But packing food into an RV fridge decreases the air flow inside of it. And this in turn makes the chances of frost buildup much greater.

So the frost keeps building up inside. When it reaches the point where the freezer and refrigerator is not cooling as well as it should, it’s time for action.

So here is how to defrost an RV refrigerator. And how to defrost an RV freezer at the same time!

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The Safest Way To Defrost An RV Refrigerator

The absolute safest way to defrost an RV refrigerator is to turn it off and remove all of the food inside. This means both the freezer and the refrigerator.

How to defrost an RV refrigerator
The safest way to defrost a fridge is to open all doors completely

Then you simply open all of the doors to the fridge and leave them open until the frost is gone. Of course, this can take a long time.

So it calls for a lot of insulated bags to store your food items in while the refrigerator defrosts.

But there is one big advantage to this long way of defrosting refrigerators. And that is that you cannot possibly harm anything by doing it this way.

That’s right, just letting air inside your RV refrigerator to warm the ice to the point that it defrosts is totally safe.

But it is also time-consuming and takes up a lot of space for the food being kept cool while the fridge defrosts.

So is there a better and faster way to defrost an RV refrigerator? The answer is yes!

Before You Defrost – A Warning

When you open up the freezer door and see ice that has caked to the walls, it will be tempting to chip it off.

But that is the worst thing you can do. You can do a lot of damage easily by using anything metal inside the refrigerator.

Some RV owners have punched a hole through the walls of their refrigerator. This can easily happen by using things like an ice pick, a fork, or a screwdriver on the ice.

Don't use sharp metal objects when you defrost an RV refrigerator
Don’t use sharp metal objects inside the refrigerator

These RV refrigerators are very versatile but they are not built to withstand the use of metal objects on their walls to clear ice. So don’t even think about it.

And truthfully, there are other methods that are faster, more complete and much safer for your fridge.

In fact, I will show you the process that we use to defrost an RV refrigerator now, and it’s much safer. It is also very easy to do and doesn’t take much time.

Most of the time we can defrost our RV freezer and refrigerator in about 30 minutes from start to finish.

It’s how we defrost our Dometic RV refrigerator. But you can use the same process for defrosting a Norcold RV refrigerator too.

And we have a full size refrigerator, so if you have a smaller one it may go even faster.

So here is how we do it –

How We Defrost An RV Refrigerator

The first step is to turn off the refrigerator. Then we begin heating two pots of water on the stove.

How to defrost an RV freezer - use pots of hot water
We start heating pots of water on the stove

Then we remove all of the food items from the freezer. We don’t leave anything in there while we are defrosting it.

We also remove food items from the refrigerator in front of the cooling fins. And any food that could be temperature sensitive like yogurt, mayonnaise, etc. too.

We leave the rest of the food where it is in the refrigerator though. There is no need to completely unload the refrigerator compartment.

We then put all of the frozen food and the refrigerated food in insulated bags to keep them cold.

And we usually add some blue ice to the bags to help keep the food cold while defrosting the fridge.

Defrost an RV freezer using insulated bags to store the cold food
We put all the food in insulated bags with blue ice

Then we place some towels on the floor and shelf of the freezer compartment. These towels accomplish a couple of important things.

First, they keep the hot pots from damaging the freezer floor or shelf. And second, they also absorb water from the freezer walls as they thaw out.

Using Hot Water Inside The Fridge And Freezer

When the water is hot, we put the pots in the freezer on the towels and close the door. The water does not have to be boiling, just hot enough to melt the ice.

Defrost an RV freezer - put towels under the hot water pots
We put the pots of hot water on the towels in the freezer

It usually takes about 15 – 20 minutes for the hot water to defrost the RV freezer compartment completely.

It also usually thaws the fins in the fridge compartment by then as well.

When everything is thawed, we remove the pots and towels. And then is when we wipe down the walls of the freezer with towels until it is dry.

Then we turn on the refrigerator. As soon as it’s starting to cool again, we reload the freezer and refrigerator. And we are done!

Click here to watch our video about defrosting an RV refrigerator

What If Additional Defrosting Is Needed?

Occasionally, the refrigerator fins do not thaw as quickly as the freezer though. So we have another procedure to solve that issue.

In this case, we use a hair dryer on the low setting and aim the warm air toward the refrigerator fins.

But we always keep the hair dryer nozzle a safe distance away from any of the fridge walls or fins.

And it’s also very important to keep the nozzle of the hair dryer moving at all times. We never let it stop in one place very long.

That makes sure that nothing in the refrigerator gets overheated.

It usually only takes a few minutes to finish thawing out the fins with this method. Then we go ahead with our reloading procedure.

How to defrost an RV refrigerator - clean ice of the refrigerator fins
Sometimes the fins require more work to help them defrost

Conclusion

The whole process is not hard to do. It just takes a little time, as I said about a half hour for us.

It’s the easiest way I know to be able to defrost an RV refrigerator. And also defrost an RV freezer too.

Once again, the absolute safe way is to just open the refrigerator and freezer, and take everything out. Then leave the doors open until thawing is completed.

But we have followed the procedure I mentioned above several times and have never had any problems.

We always use common sense and are careful with hot water. If you choose to try this method, go slow the first time and keep safety first.

Have safe and happy travels!

RV Mice – Learn How To Get Rid Of Them For Good!

If you haven’t had RV mice problems so far, consider yourself very fortunate. Chances are that somewhere down the line you will face having to deal with these unwanted guests.

And it’s important to understand that having mice in your RV is not just irritating or a nuisance. No, they can really do some serious damage to your RV quickly.

This is because mice chew on almost everything in an RV. They love to chew on pipes, wood, clothing, furniture and paper goods of any kind.

But for some reason they seem very attracted to electrical wiring.

So just think about how much expensive damage to RV wiring can be done by mice behind your RV’s walls. Or even in your engine compartment if you have a motorhome.

This kind of damage can cost thousands of dollars in RV repairs. And of course, a lot of frustration and irritation as well.

So this article will help you devise a plan to eliminate RV mice issues as much as possible. Let’s get started!

Watch my video about how to get rid of mice in your RV

Disclosure: Please note this post may contain affiliate links. This means – at no additional cost to you – I earn a commission if you make a purchase using our affiliate links. I only link to products and companies I use and feel comfortable recommending. The income goes toward supporting the free content on this website

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How To Prevent RV Mice

RV mice problems are most prevalent while an RV is in storage. This is because mice are looking for food and shelter. And your empty RV is just what they need to make a cozy home.

And since humans aren’t around, it seems to be the perfect place for them to set up shop for a while.

So the first action to take against having mice in your RV is to put prevention measures in place to keep them out. After all, it’s a lot easier to keep them out in the first place than have to remove them afterward.

Prevention Steps To Take

So here are the steps to take to prevent a mice infestation:

  • Look under your RV and try to plug up any holes or gaps that you can find where they might get entry. Remember they can get in with just a 1/4 inch gap. So push steel wool into the gap and then seal it further with expanding foam.
  • Remove all food when in storage other than canned food. They can even chew into plastic containers so remove anything other than what is in a can.
  • Many RVers have used strong scents and smells to keep them out. Scents like peppermint oil soaked cotton balls, Irish Spring soap bars, mothballs, and even dryer sheets. You may have to experiment to find the right combination for your area, but many have found these to be effective. Just remember to replenish and renew the scents often.
  • Predator pee has also been used to good effect by some RV owners. Especially bobcat and coyote pee. Mice recognize the scent of their predators and usually vacate the area.
  • LED rope lights under the RV at night has also been effective for some RVers. It’s well known that mice don’t like well lighted areas, so they seem to avoid RVs with lighted underbellies.
  • If you have an RV motorhome, keep the hood open when stored. This lets light and drafts into the engine compartment and mice will probably avoid nesting there.

Click here for expanding foam

Click here for predator pee granules

Click here for predator pee spray

Click here for LED rope lights

(These are affiliate links for the product on Amazon. It does not cost you any extra to buy the product using my affiliate link if you choose to do so)

Full-time Travel And RV Mice

If you are a full-time RV traveler, you are less likely to have to deal with mice in your RV.

This is because mice would rather be in an area where humans aren’t around. And since you are on the move, that can also be a deterrent to them setting up long-term living arrangements in your rig.

But that doesn’t mean that it can’t happen if you are a full-timer. We have had to deal with mice ourselves on one occasion.

So you need to have a plan not only to prevent RV mice, but also to remove them if necessary.

How To Remove RV Mice

Here are a few methods that have proven to be effective in getting rid of mice in your RV:

  • Mice killer or poison has proven to work against a mice infestation. The only caveat is to remember that mice can take the poison back to their nest behind the RV walls and die there. That means they are out of your reach, and the smell can be pretty bad for a while.
  • Glue traps have also been good mice control products. You put bait on the pad and when the mouse steps on the pad to get it he gets stuck there. He can’t go back to his home behind the walls. But you have to be vigilant about checking the glue traps regularly to dispose of them.
  • Humane mouse traps are another way to try to catch mice and remove them. And if done right, there is no real harm to the mouse. They are baited into a plastic container where they are trapped. They have food and air holes to breathe. But again, you must check the traps regularly to remove the mouse before he dies.
  • The good old-fashioned spring loaded mouse trap is by far the most effective way of eliminating an RV mice infestation. So if things start getting out of control because the mice are breeding rapidly, it may be your best choice overall.

Click here for Tomcat Mouse Killer

Click here for mouse glue traps

Click here for humane mouse traps

Click here for old-fashioned mouse traps

(These are affiliate links for the product on Amazon. It does not cost you any extra to buy the product using my affiliate link if you choose to do so)

Conclusion

If you find that you start to have an RV mice problem, don’t panic. But don’t be complacent either.

You need a plan of action to get them out of your RV as soon as possible. And then, do your best to prevent them from coming back.

The suggestions in this article have been proven over time to be very effective. But some work better than others.

The key here is not to waste any time doing something to remove the mice from your RV. So choose your plan of action and start putting it in place as soon as possible!

The Truth About RV Washer And Dryer Combo Units

RV washer and dryer combo machines are usually found in larger rigs like Class A motorhomes.

This is because they take up a certain amount of space that smaller rigs just can’t provide.

But for many RV owners, giving up the space for a washer and dryer combo is well worth the trade-off.

Everybody has to do laundry at some point. And if you don’t have a built in washer and dryer installed in your RV, your choices are limited.

In fact, you will most likely have to wash your clothes at either a campground facility or a nearby laundromat. And there are drawbacks for both of these choices.

Either way, you will probably have to sit with your clothes while they are being washed and dried.

On the other hand, having a washer/dryer in your RV allows you to do other things while the laundry is being done.

Also, the machines in campgrounds and laundromats can be dirty at times and even greasy from the previous users.

And then there is the expense involved in using those machines that can also add up over time.

Disclosure: Please note this post may contain affiliate links. This means – at no additional cost to you – I earn a commission if you make a purchase using our affiliate links. I only link to products and companies I use and feel comfortable recommending. The income goes toward supporting the free content on this website.

Pros And Cons Of RV Washer/Dryers

The main benefit of an RV washer and dryer combo unit is their convenience of use. You lose no travel time to bring your clothes anywhere else to do laundry.

You also don’t lose the time babysitting your clothes while they are being done.

In fact, the combo units use the same drum to both wash and dry. And this means that you don’t even have to transfer clothes from washer to dryer. And these machines do a very good job and are known to be reliable.

The cons of RV washer/dryer combos is mainly related to their size. Because they are designed to take up as little space as possible, you can’t do large loads of laundry.

This may be an irritation at first if you are used to doing laundry in larger washers at home.

But as you learn to use the machine correctly, you simply adjust to the smaller load size. And you plan on doing laundry more often to make up for the smaller loads.

But you may notice that during the spin cycle, the vibration from the washer will shake the RV a little bit. Again, this is a minor issue for most but some find it disconcerting when compared to a home washer.

Also, you will have to get used to machine washing clothes in a different way. When we first got our Splendide washer, my wife thought it wasn’t working properly.

This is because the drum would just roll back and forth for a while. Then it would roll over a few times, then go back to the back and forth motion.

After a call to the manufacturer assured us that it was designed to work that way, we let it do its job. And sure enough, our laundry came out just fine.

How To Use A Washer/Dryer Combo

As mentioned above, you will need to adjust the size of your laundry loads and do them more often.

Although the combo unit can both wash and dry your clothes automatically, you may choose to air dry your laundry.

Some RVers put a portable drying rack in their shower or outside on their rear ladder for this purpose. This allows you to wash more loads while air drying them as they are done with the wash cycle.

Also, you will need to use a laundry detergent that is made for these washers. It will be labeled “HE” (High Efficiency) on the detergent bottle.

This keeps the amount of suds down in each laundry load while still doing a great job cleaning your clothes.

Tide makes a great detergent for these units, but most other laundry brands have their version as well.

If you use regular laundry detergent, it will produce too many suds and overflow. So be sure to use the HE version of your favorite laundry detergent.

You also can use a mild fabric softener like Downy but no dryer sheets can be used in these units.

And every now and then you will want to empty out the lint trap that is usually located at the bottom of the unit.

What Is The Best RV Washer And Dryer?

This is the Splendide washer/dryer in our bedroom:

Our Splendide RV washer and dryer combo
Our Splendide washer and dryer combo

For many RV owners, the best RV washer/dryer combo is made by Splendide. You can find them in many full-time RV rigs these days. However, Splendide makes both a ventless and a vented model.

But there is a big difference in customer satisfaction between those two models. By far, the preference of most RV owners is for the vented machine.

On Amazon the vented units have a 4.5 star rating and the ventless model only 3.5 stars. So my recommendation is definitely for the vented model. That’s the one that we have.

If your RV did not come with a washer/dryer combo installed, make sure that is has been plumbed for it first.

And be sure that your RV electrical service can handle the additional load one of these machines can place on it.

Then have it installed by a professional who is familiar with this kind of installation. Otherwise, you can have a mess on your hands that can be costly to fix.

Click here learn more about the Splendide RV washer and dryer combo

(This is an affiliate link for the product on Amazon. It does not cost you any extra to buy the product using my affiliate link if you choose to do so)

Conclusion

So are RV washer and dryers worth it? Well, it depends.

You don’t have to own a washer dryer combo unit to keep your clothes clean while RVing.

There are plenty of campgrounds and laundromats that can help you stay up with your laundry needs.

But if you have the room in your RV, I can heartily recommend the Splendide washer and dryer combo as it has been a real pleasure to use in our motorhome.

My wife basically plans on doing one load a day on average. By doing this she keeps up with the daily laundry for us both.

And since the machine washes and dries the clothes automatically, it doesn’t really take up much of her time to do laundry.

When larger items like bed covers need to be done, she plans ahead to use a commercial machine at a convenient laundromat. This system has worked well for us in our RV travels.

Of course, what works for us may not be best for you. Everyone who travels by RV has different needs and circumstances, so your mileage may vary.

But we are glad to have the convenience that a washer dryer combo unit brings to our RV life.

I hope that this discussion of washer/dryer combo units for RVs has been helpful.

Please let me know if you have any questions that I didn’t answer. You can include them in the comments below.

As always, have safe and happy travels my friends!

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